Air conditioner



F. RIEBEL, JR., El AL AIR CONDITIONER Filed July 14, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheetl Bnnentor 3 gvwcieviqg iR'iebe i, 5/ gam cm! 7 Q qlttomeg y 1936- F.RIEBEL, JR., ET AL 2,041,959

AIR CONDITIONER Filed July 14, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 55 7a 5 79 J2 i/MM. attorneg.

May 9 F. RIEBEL, JR., ET AL 2,041,959

AIR CONDITIONER Filed July 14, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 //7 Zhwentor SEmma fl/M, 1/0

? Q 33 (Ittorneg Patented May .26,-

t AIB OONDITIONER.

Frederick Riebel. Jr., and Lachlan W. "Child,

tion of Illinois Toledo, Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, toAeriet Air Conditioner Company, a corpora- Application July 14, 1933,Serial No. 680,439

11 Claims. (01. 2(i 1-- 115) This invention relates to air conditioners,and y has as its primary object to provide a heating,

' plane parallel to the two major dimensions of the casing, whereby togive a maximum water con,-

cooling, humidifying and dehumidifying conditioning unit of suchcompactness that it may be installed in an ordinary living room.

' One aspect of the inventioniskthe arrangement of a blower in anupright, elongated casing so as to draw air through a spray chamberwhich is almost eo-extensive in area with the front of the casing, i.e.', extends across thecasing in a tact in a casing ofjninimum volume.

Another aspect of the invention is the discovery that-, -in such anarrangement, it is possible to pass a stream of air having a crosssectional area corresponding to the major dimensions of said spraychamber through a spray traversing serving eifectually to remove liquidparticles means comprising chiefly a pair of air porous the entirechamber, and thence .directly into the blower, without carryingmoisture, an eliminator screen interposed between 'the spray and theblower andalmost in contact with them both, from the ,air before itreaches the blower. An object is to provide means whereby thespraychamber may. occupy a quite shallow space co-extensive with theinlet of the casing, such screens mounted in said inletin closely spacedpositions parallel'to the front Qf'the casing, the outer screen servingto prevent water splashing out of the casing, and. the other being theelimi-- nator above mentioned, a

A further object is to provide a novel method of securing a maximumwater contact with a moving air stream, said method involving theprowaterparticles, the respective sheets being spaced just far enoughapart to insure the spacing of the individual water droplets, andpassing the air stream transversely through said sheets.

Another object is to provide a novel spray impeller for producing theaforementioned closely spaced plural sheets.

It is the purpose to provide in combination with a conditioning unithaving air moving and water spraying means as aforesaid, an arrangementof a water cooler, and a supply line from a water main, either of whichmay beused for feeding the spray, the cooler being used for extreme 0onditions of heat and humidity and the supply water being used forhumidiflcation in cold weather. Another object is to provide anarrangement for collecting the spray water, returning it to the coolerwhen the latter is being used, or returning it to the spray when thedevice is being used for h'umidiiication. This embodies the use of .acollecting pan below the spray, a valved return from the pan to thecooler, and a pump communicating with the pan and with the spray.

A further object is to provide an arrangement whereby both the returnpump and the supply line may be in operative connection with the sprayimpeller at the same time, means being provided to prevent backflow ofwater from the supply line'through the pump.

Anotherobject is to provide an arrangement whereby the supply line mayserve only as a re plenishing medium when the conditioner is being usedfor humidifying, a float valve being pro-' vided for cutting off thesupply line just below trols a waterlevel below the level controlled bythe float valve, and yet does not interfere with the functioning of thefloat valve as a safety means to prevent the water level reaching thetop of the pan.

It is also our object t9 avoid the building up of the water level bywater condensed from the air when the system is used with the coolercircuit in operation, whereby a maximum percentage of the circulatingwater may be retained in the cooler to secure maximum cooling effect.

Anotherobject is to provide'a conditioner in which access to theinterior is facilitated by the removability of the screens and theresting of the conditioner casing in the, water pan wlthout attachmentthereto.

Another object is to utilize the water sealing of the lower extremitiesof the screens and the casing in .the collecting pan to cause the entireair stream to pass through the screens.

With these and other objects in view our invention consists in thecombination and construction and arrangement of the various partsthereof, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as more fullyset forth in the accompanying specifications, pointed out in the claims,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which: v v

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the system, the cooler being shownin'diagram and parts of the conditioning unit being broken awayconditioning PATENT 0mm;

f modification of the system wherein the cooler is above instead ofbelow the conditioning unit.

The conditioning system comprisesgenerally a conditioning unit A, asupply line B connected to a water main, and a water cooler C. Thelatter will comprise the conventional combination oi heat absorbingmeans acting to cool a water cir culating circuit including the intakeand discharge connections I0 and II, and a suitable pump E forcirculating the cooled water through the conditioning unit A and back tothe cooler. Being conventional, these parts are not illustrated indetail.

A cabinet or hood D encloses the conditioning unit A and is providedwith front and top grilles l2 and I3, substantially the entire area ofboth front and top being open to allow free circulation to and from theunit A.

The casing of the unit A includes upper and lower sections l4 and I5,joined in a horizontal plane l6 by marginal flanges I1 and I8 boltedtogether by bolts IS.

The respective sections l4 and I5 include end walls 20, 20a.connected bythe respective rear 24 welded to the walls 20.

The heating element 30 is mounted rearwardly of the top of the contactchamber N, being spaced from the rear wall 2| of the casing so as toform a cooled air outlet Q. A-plate 25, secured to the rear edgesof thefins of the element 30, vforms the forward wall of the outlet Q.

A deflector wall 26, formed as a downwardly and rearwardly inclinedcontinuation of the top wall 22, meets the plate 25, to deflect all airpassing upwardly thrbugh the element 30, forwardly through the outlet 0.L

An upstandingbafile 21, formed as acontinuation of the rear extremity ofthe partition wall 23, forms with the plate 25 a heating passage P inwhich all of the blower discharge may be con: strained to contact theelement 30. The baiiie 2'! also serves, by the spacing of its upper edgeabove the lower extremity of the outlet 0, to cause a concentration ofthe air stream against.the defiector wall 26 which will result in a.decided downward inclination of the air stream leaving All of the walls22, 23, 25, 26, and 21 extend full length of the casing, the walls 22,23, 26 and 21 being secured to the end walls 20 as indicated,

'to rigidity the upper portion of the casing.

The blower R occupies the lower portion of the space behind the contactchamber 'N, being of less height than the chamber so as to leave,between its upper level and the level of the top of the contact chamber,a space S in which the blower discharge may be diverted either to theheating passage P or to the cooled air outlet Q. The forward extremityof the space S is defined by a partition wall 28, secured to thepartition wall 23 as at 29 and inclined rearwardly and downwardly fromthe top of the contact chamber N ,to the blower outlet I85 and restingin contact with the top plate 30 of the blower unit without beingsecured thereto. A damper 3i, swingingly mounted on an axis close to thelower rear corner of the element 30, may be swung from the full lineposition shown to the dotted line position In its full line position itdirects the blower discharge to the cooled air outlet Q. In its dotted 1line position, it directs the blower discharge to the heating passage P.An operating lever 32 (Fig. '7) has one end bent at right angles as at33, extended through an opening in the end wall 28, and secured to oneend of the damper 3| to form v one of the pivots on which the damper isswung. The lever 32 cooperates with a notched keeper 34 to retain thedamper in either of its adjusted positions. The lower edge of the damperis provided with a, sealing strip 35 which is adapted to contact eitherthe partition wall 28 or the rear 1 wall 2la, its primary function beingto prevent 35 rattling of the damper against said walls under anyvibration that the operating parts of the conditioner may set up. Bothdamper 3| and partition wall 28 extend full length of the casing.

The casing is open at the front with the exception of a trough 36 and anapron 31 depending therefrom, both extending from end to end of thecasing, and supported by attachment of the ends of the trough to the endwalls 2la, the trough thus serving as a bracing strut connecting thelower forward corners of .the end walls. Chane nels 38 are formed at thesides of the trough 36,

to receive the screens 39,10, which define the water contact chamber N,substantially co-extensive with the open front of the casing.

The partition wall 28 serves the additional function of deflecting theair drawn through the chamber N down to the blower R, whereby thevelocity of the air as it passes through the chamber N may be relativelylow because of the large area of the chamber, and may gradually increaseas it concentrates toward the blower inlets. The

air travel is indicated by the arrows 4|.

As the air travels through the chamber N, it is cut by a plurality ofclosely spaced sheets of fine water droplets, discharged tangentiallyfrom a plurality of conical disks42 forming part 01' the spray impeller,The velocity of the discharged water particles is such as to resist thedeflecting action of the air stream'until they contact the periphery ofthe chamber N defined by the trough 36 and a spacing flange 43 whichextends around the top and ends of the chamber. From the periphery ofthe chamber the water particles will splash in alldirections,disintegrating to form even finer droplets which willthoroughly wet the inner surfaces. of both screens 39 and 40. s I, Thenarrowness of the chamber N not only in- "sures the thorough wetting of,the screens, but

prevents the water particles acquiring from the '30 40 from the rear.

air stream sufiicient velocity. in the direction of to snugly receivethe drum l8, and are secured air flow to-be impelled through .the innerscreen 40, which serves as an eliminator. p j Thorough enoughelimination to allow the blow 5 er andother operating parts to bepositioned directly adjacent the eliminator screen, is secured throughthe above noted narrowness of the chamberN and the use of a screencomprising a mat 44 of spun glass, enca'ged between grids 45 of wirecloth or perforated metal and framed in a channel 46. The mat 44 isimpregnated with latex,

forming a coating which bonds together theindividual glass fibres wherethey cross each other,

" without impairing the air porosity. This bond l5 lng gives support tothe fibres to prevent settling of the mat under its own weight .whencarried in an upstanding position. It also cushions the fibres againstthe jars 'of handling. I

The forward screen 39-serves to prevent splash- 2 ing of the water-outof the front of the: casing.

The spacer 43 islsecured to the forward screen 39 and a spacing flange41, also extending around threesides of the" chamber N, issecured to theinner screen 40. The overlapping of the flanges forms an effective sealto prevent passage of air or water around the edges of the screen 48from the chamber, N. The inner screen 40 ispositioned by the channel 38.and a strip 48 .secured to the partition 23 and engaging the top ofthescreen The two screens are spaced from each other by the spacers 43,41. .They' are both held in position by a removable strip 49 attached bybolts 50 to the partition 23, and may be removed by removing the strip49, tilting them The casing is open at the bottom and rests in acollecting pan 5| without attachment thereto. Water is collected betweenthe screens by the trough 3G,passes through drain openings 52, and 0 isconveyed by a drain skirt 53 to the body of water in the pan 5|, theskirt 53 serving to avoid splashing noises which would be caused if thewater were allowed to drip. K The apron 31 prevents passage pf air belowthe screens, serving, in conjunction wtih the end walls 20a and rearwall Zia of the casing to effect a water seal in the body of water inthepan.

The blower unit R comprises a base frame 54,

a pair of blower housings 55, mounted thereon as 50 by means of legs 55,an electric motor 51 mount-v -ed on the base frame throughthe medium ofa resilient mounting 58, and ians 59 mounted, in the housings 55, on themotor shaft 502 The side walls a, 55b of the housings'55, are attachedby flanges 5| to the'top plate 30, in which outlet openings I05 areformed to register with the mouths of the housings 55. Bridging thespace between the housings 55, and secured to the flanges 5t, of theadjacent side walls 55b, are supporting bars 52 from which is suspendedon screws 53, and cushioned by rubber washers 54, the impeller bracket85. The bracket 55 is formed withv a nozzle defined between a shaftbearing 55 and a spaced co-airial encircling sleeve 51 which mergesintoa laterally extending supply connection 68. The impeller i 11 shaft59 is jourrialled in the bearing 65. The impeller drum 19 has ahub 1|mounted on the shaft 3 69 and engaging-the-end of the bearing 88 toprevent axial movement .of the impeller toward the bracket 55. .A pulley12," secured to the other end of the shaft, engages the other and of thehearing 55 to prevent axial movement of the impeller away from thebracket.

35 forwardly, and lifting them from the channels 38.

. 1 'The' impeller disks; 42 are centrally apertured between a flange onthe forward end of the drum V wand a collar 13 threaded on the rear endof the drum. The collar 15 snugly encircles the nozzle sleeve 51 withjust' enough clearance to rotate freely. The disks .42 are spaced apartby radial, fluted darts I4 formed in their central regions, the flutesbeing pointed so as to merge with the rim of the disks as shown;Openings '|5 in the drum 10 provide communication from the interior ofthe drum to spaces between the disks 42.

To the connection 58 is attached a T connection 15 (Fig. 3), through themedium of a nipple 'l'i. The connection has the coaxial opposed branches18 and 19. Into the former isv threaded a-sleeve carrying a nipple 8|.In the branch 19 is mounted a nipple 82 which projects into theconnection 15 to form a valve seat. A check valve clement includingapilot skirt 83 axially slidable in. the nipple and a valve head 84,seats against the nipple when pressure in the nipple 8| exceedsthat inthe nipple 82.

To the nipple is attached a tube 85 leading from a common connection 85to the water sup- 1 ply main B and the cooler discharge pipe ii. To thenipple.82 is attached a tube 88 leading from the collecting pan pump 89.When the conditioner' is using water from the main B, the check valvewill close off the tube 88 to prevent back flow of. water through thepump 89, which would occur in the absence 'of a check valve due togreater pressure being supplied by a water main than will he developedby the pump 88. Such back flow would cause a pressure loss resulting indecreased effectiveness of the spray. Thesupply of water from the main Bmay be shut on by a hand valve 90 so as to allow only the pump 88 tosupply collected pan water to the impeller. This will occur when thesystefn is used for cooling and dehumidifylng. The refrigerated waterfrom the cooler C will gather water of condensation from the air whichit conditions, and will thus need no replenishing-from the main B.Inthis case, there will be a. closed circuit connecting the cooling andconditioning units, cooled-water being pumped from the cooler C throughthe pipe ll the connection 85, the tube 85 and the connection 15 to theimpeller, collected by the pan-5| and returned through the outlet 9| tothe return pipe Ill and thence back to the cooler C. It is desirablethat the level of collected water remain low during this operation, sothat most of the body of water may remain under the refrigerating effectof the cooler C.

The tube 85 communicates with the connection 86 through a float valve92, which will close at alevel near the top of the pan 5|, This valveautomatically regulates the replenishing of water when the conditioneris belng used for humidifying, in which case it is desirable that thelevel in the "pan remain fairly high to insure plenty of water for the.pump 88, to supply water to the spray for humidifying. As an addedsafety measure to insure against overflowing of the pan" in the event offailure of the float valve 92, a constantly open overflow 93 isprovided, communieating with a drain pipe 94 leadingto asewer or Y otherregion'of disposal. The overflow 93' conftrols a level somewhat abovethat controlled -by the float valve '51, whereby under normalconditionsthe level in the panduring humidifying will 1 be-controlled bycontrolling the inflow of water from the 'supply line B rather thanbydisposing of-waste water.

I When the conditioner isto be used for. cooling and dehumidifying, itbecomes necessary that the fioat valve 92 remain normally open orinoperative sothat it willnotinterfere with the flow of cooled waterfrom the pump E. If the amount of add to the water in the system. Toovercome this problem, we provide an auxiliary overflow 95,

, communicating with the drain pipe 94" through a belt H9.

vided, to check inlet and outlet' tein when the unit is using cooledwater.

hand valve96. The level controlled by the overflow 95 is suflicientlyabove the outlet 9| so as tov insure the flow of collected water back tothe cooler C when the latter is operating. On the other hand, the levelcontrolled by the overflow 95 is sufiiciently below the level controlledby the float valve 92 to insure the latter remaining inoperative whenthe overflow 95 is open. a

When the system is used for humidifying, the valves 96, 91, 91aareclosed off, cutting out the coolerC and the overflow 95, and thevalve 90 v height and length of the chamber.

is opened. I

When the system is used for cooling, the valve 90 is closed off aftercharging the system with water, and the valves 96, 91, and 91a areopened. The pan 5I has a moisture collectingeave 9.8

which is connected by a small tube 99to the drain pipe 94. Moisture.condensing on the exterior of the pan is thus carried away withoutreaching the floor of the room in which the unit is installed.

The impeller. extends through an opening H in the rear screen .40, whichopening is closed by a cap plate II I pressed onto the nozzle sleeve 61and against the bracket 65 and engaging the rear face of the screen 40at its rim.

The impeller and pump 89 are driven from the motor shaft 60. A gearcasing II2' encloses a helical gear II3 on the shaft 60 and two helicalgears Ill and H5 on shafts IIS and II]. mounted at right angles to eachother in the casing I I2.

The gears Ill and IIS mesh' with the gear H3.

on the end of the shaft I I6 is mounted the pulley II8, aligned'with'thetpulley 12 on theimpeller shaft, and driving it through the medium ofa On the lower end of the shaft II! 15 mounted the operating mechanismof the pump. 89. The pump casing is connected to' the gearpasing II2 bya sleeve I20 which encases the shaft III.

The heating element 30 extends through openings I00 in the end walls 20of the upper casing section It and rests upon the upper edges of the endwalls 20a of the lower section IS. The two sections are 'detachabletoiallow assembling and removal of the element 30. v

Steam supply pipes I0 I for the: element 30 cccupy the spaces betweenthe ends of the conditioning unit A and the cabinet D,'and connect tothe headers I02. 15

In Fig. 8, a slightly modified form of piping hook-up is shown, in whichthe return I0 is connected to the drain 9! by a pipe I 05 in which is avalve IIlI ,which'remains closed at all times except when it is desiredto drain the cooler.

Thermometers I08 and I09 may also be pro- In summary, it may be notedthat we achieve maximum water contact by drawing air' through a contactchamber occupying a major portion of the area of the front of theconditioner casingf passing the air through-a highly disintegrated waterspray comprising a plurality of closely peratures n spaced sheets oftangentially traveling fine water particles intersecting the air streamat right angles and bouncing back into the air stream in even morefinely divided state. By discharging Air travels through the chamber Nat relativelylow velocity and the distance it moves in traversing thechamber is not suiliciently great for it to impart to the waterparticles suflicient movement towardthe screen 40.,to propel the waterparticles through the screen. Thus the screen may be guiteair perviousso as to utter little resistance to the air flow through the chamber.The velocity of the water particles is much higher than that of the air,which further minimizes deflection of the water particles against thescreen 40, and maintains the spacing of the plural sheets of waterparticles through the entire We. find it possible to obtain compactnessin arranging the blower immediately adjacent the eliminator screen,discharging upwardly. We provide forselective upward discharge of cooledair (desirable because it is heavier than ,the "Warmer air) in a roombeing cooled, or projection of a heated air stream below the horizontalto compensate for its buoyancy. I

We provide a system of water supply and disposal which allows thecollected water to be used over and over again, or allows a closedcircula- Mon through a water cooler, with provision for automaticcontrol of the supply from the main by a float valve when thesystem isused for humidifying, or rendering the float valve inoperative when aconstant flow through it for dehumidifying -is desired; and whichprovides against overflow, 'of the collecting pan under any conditions.

We claim as our invention: A 1. In an air conditioner, a spray impellercomprising a plurality of stacked, coaxial disks prosaid chamber ismounted, I extending axially through the center of said nozzle. 2. Inanair conditioner including a casing through which an air stream ispassed, a device for delivering water into contact with said air stream;a water pan to collect said water, apump for returning water from thepan to the delivery device, a pipe line for conveying water to saiddelivery device from a supply main, a common connection joining, saidpump and said line to the delivery device, and a check valve forpreventing back flow of. water from said connection to the pump? 3. Inan air conditioner, a casing, a. motor drivenblower unit therein, arotatable spray impeller, a drive connection between said unit and theimpeller for rotating the latter, including a shaft, and an eliminatorscreen through which said,shaft extends,interposed between the imconveywater from the cooling unit to said conditioning unit, said last meansincluding a iioat valve in the aforesaid pan, set to close at apredetermined level of the water in said pan, a return for conveyingwater from the pan back to the cooling unit, and an overflow fordraining water from the pan at'a level above/the level of the inlet tosaid return and below the level controlled by said valve, for disposingof water of coiidensatin.

, tively thin water contact chamber, means to spray '5. In an airconditioner, an upright casing formed with a'water contactchambeno'ccupying' amajor portion of the area of the front of the casingbut spaced from the top thereof to provide a heated air delivery outlet,a cooleliair outlet in the top of casing at the rear thereof,- ablowerunit behind said water contact chamber, pulling air through said chamberand delivering it upwardly to' said unheated air outlet, a heatingelement located above said blower, rearwardly of said heated airoutlet'andforwardly of said imheated air outlet, means to supply a waterspray to said contact chamber, me ns to 0001 said water whereby the airwill be coo ed by contact therewith; and adjustable means in the casingfdr ,selectively diverting the blower discharge through said-heatingelement, or to said unheated air outlet. g

6. In a combination air heater and air cooler, an upright casing, havingan opening in one side,

a pair of closely spaced parallel filter screens the outer of whichtraverses said opening, mounted within said casing to form between thema rela-' cooled waterjn said chamber, 'a blower between the inner,screen and the oppositesideof the casing, a delivery chamberbein'giormed. in the easing comm'unicating with the blower outlet, and

separated from the contact chamber, heated air and cooled air outlets atopposite corners of the top of the casing, said cooled airoutlet'communieating with said delivery space, a heating elementdisposed between said delivery space and said heated air outlet and incommunication with both and adjustable means in said delivery space toselectivelyconnect said blower outlet to either said heating element orto said cooled air outlet.

'T. In-an air conditioner, an upright casing having an opening occupyingat least a major per-- tion of the area of one or its upright sides, anda top discharge outlet, a mir or c loselyspacedfiltering-screensthe-outer of which traverses said opening, formingbetween them a relatively thing water contact chamber, and a blowerdisposed bedriven blower unit therein, arotatable spray impeller; adrive connection between said unit and the impeller for rotating'thelatter, including a shaft, and an eliminator screen through which saidshaftex'tends; interposed between the impeller and the blower unit, saidimpeller being adapted to produce a spray of water particles movingparallel and close to the adjacent face of said eliminator screen, andtransverse to the air stream moving through said screen. r

,9. In an air conditioner, a casing having an inlet opening, a blower inthe, casing, pulling air through said opening, means to deliver arelatively thin spray comprising a plurality of closely spaced sheets ofwater particles moving substantially parallel to,each other across theair stream moving from said opening tosaid blower, and an eliminatorscreen interposed between said blower and said sheet, parallel andclosely adjacent to the latter. ,3

10. In an air conditionena spray impeller cornprfsing a plurality ofstacked, coaxial disks slightnozzle extending axially into one end ofsaid chamber, and a drive sha t on which said chamber is mounted,extendi g axially through the center of said nozzle.

11. In an air conditioner, a-casing having an inspray between said.screens and substantially ly spaced apart, a hollow dispensing chamberon which said disks aremounted, a liquid supply let opening, a pair ofclosely spaced screens across said inlet opening, means for projectingawater 40' parallelthereto at a relatively high velocity, some of thedroplets of said spray striking and rebounding from the inner surfacesof the screens to keep said inner surface wettedwithout passing throughthe screens, and means for causing a current of air to flow through saidinlet openingand ,through the screens and the spray at a lower velocitythan the velocity of said spray.

K; FREDERICK mama. LACHLAN w. 0mm).

